Do I need to say my Sunnah prayers if I’m traveling?

by Asma bint Shameem

ANSWER

The Prophet ﷺ is our BEST example and his practice of the Deen is what Allaah is pleased with.

Let’s see what the Prophet ﷺ did when he was traveling.

Did he ﷺ pray the Sunnah or not?

📌Hafs ibn Aasim ibn ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab said:

“I accompanied Ibn Umar radhi Allaahu anhu on the way to Makkah.

He led us in praying two rak’ahs of dhuhr prayer, then he left and we left with him until he came to where his luggage was.

He sat down and we sat with him, then he looked towards the place where we had prayed, and he saw some people standing and he asked, ‘What are these people doing?’

I said, ‘They are praying voluntary prayers.’

He said, ‘If I wanted to pray (naafil or Sunnah prayers) after the fardh prayer, I would have completed my prayer (i.e., not shortened it).’

O son of my brother, I accompanied the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ whilst traveling and he did not add anything to these two rak’ahs until Allaah took him (in death).

And I accompanied Abu Bakr and he did not add anything to these two rak’ahs until Allaah took him (in death);

and I accompanied Umar and he did not add anything to these two rak’ahs until Allaah took him (in death);

and I accompanied ‘Uthmaan and he did not add anything to these two rak’ahs until Allaah took him (in death).

And Allaah says:

‘Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow’[al-Ahzaab 33:21].”

(Al-Bukhaari 1102 and Muslim 689)

📌Ibn al-Qayyim said regarding this statement of Asim Ibn Umar:

“This demonstrates his understanding, may Allaah be pleased with him.

For Allaah has reduced the four-rak’ah prayers for the traveler by half.

If it were prescribed to pray the two rak’ahs (of Sunnah prayer) before and after, it would be more appropriate to pray the fardh prayer in full.”

(Zaad al-Ma’aad, 1/316)

This shows that the Prophet ﷺ did NOT pray the regular Sunnah associated with the five daily prayers while he was traveling, whether for Hajj or otherwise.

And neither did senior Sahaabah like Abu Bakr or Umar radhi Allaahu anhumaa.

And that’s ‘why’ Ibn Umar radhi Allaahu anhu criticized those who prayed regular Sunnah prayers when traveling.

🔺EXCEPTION

There was an EXCEPTION to the above practice of the Prophet ﷺ.

Although he ﷺ did not pray the regular Sunnah prayers while traveling, he DID pray the two Sunnah of Fajr.

In fact, he ﷺ never left the two Sunnah of Fajr or Witr even while he was traveling. 

And he also prayed general Nawaafil such as Tahajjud prayer, Duhaa, Tahiyyatul Masjid, etc. as well.

Proof:

📌Abu Qataadah radhi Allaahu anhu said that the Prophet ﷺ prayed the regular Sunnah prayer of Fajr when traveling.” (Muslim)

📌“And the Prophet ﷺ also prayed Witr when traveling.” (al-Bukhaari)

🍃Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: 

“With regard to the regular Sunnah prayers, I have studied what was narrated in the Sunnah concerning the naafil prayers, and it seems to me that the regular Sunnah prayers of Dhuhr, Maghrib and ‘Isha’ need not be offered (by the traveler), but he may offer other naafil prayers apart from that, such as the Sunnah of Fajr, the Sunnah of Witr, qiyaam al-layl, Duha and tahiyyat al-masjid, and naafil prayers in general.”

(Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 15/258)

🔺What about at Hajj?

Even at Hajj the Prophet ﷺ did not pray the regular Sunnah associated with the five daily prayers except Sunnah of Fajr and Witr prayers.

📌Ibn Umar radhi Allaahu anhumaa said:

“The Prophet ﷺ combined Maghrib and ‘Isha prayer in Jam’ (i.e., Muzdalifah), reciting the iqaamah for each of them, and he did not pray Sunnah in between or after either of them.” (al-Bukhaari 1673)

📌And Jaabir ibn Abd-Allaah radhi Allaahu anhu said:

The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ traveled until he reached ‘Arafah, where he found that the tent had been set up for him in Namirah.

He stayed there until the sun had passed its zenith, then he called for al-Qaswa’ (his camel) to be saddled, and he rode to the bottom of the valley, where he addressed the people.

Then he told Bilaal to give the adhaan then the iqaamah, then he prayed Dhuhr, and then Bilaal recited another iqaamah and he prayed ‘Asr, and he did not pray anything in between.” (Muslim 1218, an-Nasaa’i 655)

🔺What about in Makkah and Madeenah?

Since the Prophet ﷺ didn't pray the regular Sunnah prayers while traveling, then you should also not pray the regular Sunnah even if you’re in Makkah or Madeenah IF you don’t LIVE there.

So after the adhaan is called, the ONLY prayer you need to pray is the Fardh prayer with the Imaam in congregation.

There’s no need to pray the Sunnah, whether before OR after the fardh, EXCEPT the Sunnah of Fajr.

However, you can pray as many Nawaafil as you like, because that’s what’s proven from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.

So do pray tahajjud prayer, Duhaa, Tahiyyatul Masjid, Tahiyyatul wudhu, and other general non specific Nawaafil.

🔺What?!

No Sunnah even in Makkah and Madeena!?

Isn’t the reward of praying one Salaah in Masjid al-Haraam equal to a 100,000 prayers any where else?

How can I not pray Sunnah there?!

Well, think about it this way....

What do you love more?

Praying Sunnah in Masjid al-Haraam and getting 100,000 rewards

OR

FOLLOWING the SUNNAH of the Prophet ﷺ?

Shouldn't following the Sunnah be MORE BELOVED to us than ANY THING ELSE in the ENTIRE WORLD,

IF we TRULY LOVE our beloved Prophet ﷺ, EVEN IF it means giving up the rewards of a 100,000 prayers?!

I mean, the Sahaabah gave up their LIVES for the Prophet ﷺ.

Can we not give up our ‘desire for rewards’ for his sake?

THINK about that....

So FOLLOW his Sunnah.

And give up your own ‘desire’ JUST BECAUSE you love him...

Just because you LOVE his Sunnah.

And, Allaah will reward you EVEN MORE than a 100,000 IF you do it out of FAITH and LOVE of His Beloved ﷺ.

In any case, we can pray as many nawaafil as we want.

So go ahead and pray tahajjud, Ishraaq, Duhaa, tahiyyatul masjid, tahiyyatul wudhu, and general unspecified nawaafil after Dhuhr till Asr, or after maghrib to ishaa.

We can also pray the Janaazah prayer, eclipse prayer, Salaat al-Istisqaa (prayer for rain) or Salaatul istikhaarah, etc.

I ask Allaah that He grant us the TRUE understanding of His Deen and TRUE LOVE of His Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam.

And Allaah knows best.